MATTAPOISETT — A curfew suspending all activity on town beaches, parks and ball fields after dusk due to the threat of eastern equine encephalitis, or EEE, has now been lifted according to Public Health Nurse Amanda Stone.

Eastern equine encephalitis, a mosquito-carried virus, has no cure, and is often fatal. Mattapoisett was considered to be at “high risk,” while neighboring Marion and Rochester were at “critical risk.”

To lift the curfew, health officials look for temperatures to drop to 28 degrees or less for at least three hours to ensure that all mosquitoes and their larvae are dead. 

The Marion Board of Health ended a 6 p.m. curfew on Nov. 9, saying that, “Plymouth County has experienced the first sustained cold temperatures of the season therefore the threat of EEE has been significantly diminished. Regular scheduled outdoor activities can resume.” 

Stone told Sippican Week that while Mattapoisett’s curfew has been lifted, residents are still encouraged to take precautions (wear long sleeved clothing, use insect repellent, etc.).

As of 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 12, Sippican Week has received no notice of The Town of Rochester lifting its own EEE-related curfew.

Across the state 12 people were diagnosed with the disease, including one Rochester man. Four people who were diagnosed died from the disease.